Problem: Paul says that believers will be “cut off,” unless they continue in God’s kindness. Some interpreters argue that this threatens the doctrine of eternal security. Catholic apologist Karl Keating writes, “Paul wrote this to people who were already ‘saved,’ in a state of grace—a grace they could lose, becoming ‘unsaved.’”[1] Is this the case?
Solution: Paul is not referring to individual salvation; he is referring to corporate use in God’s plan. The context demonstrates that the Gentiles could be removed from God’s plan of salvation at any time. Therefore, he is not challenging eternal security; he is challenging ethnic security.
[1] Keating, Karl. Catholicism and Fundamentalism. San Francisco: Ignatius, 1988. 174.
“Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off. (Rom 11:22)
